Dulwich Runners round-up: Big turnout of teams for Dulwich Midsummer Relays

Ninety-six teams ran three laps of Dulwick Park at last week’s Dulwich Midsummer Relays with Fabien Whitelock (Dulwich Runners) posting the joint-fastest time of the evening (4:42) to give Dulwich a slender lead over a Herne Hill team spearheaded by Brandon Dewar (4:43) and a Newham & Essex Beagles team led out by Sebastian Lawrence (4:47).

Oscar Kent (Newham) ran the best second leg of the night to overtake Dulwich and Herne Hill with a five second lead entering the final lap.

Charlie Everest put in a blistering display of 4:42 to win the race for Newham in 14:24 with more than half a minute to spare. Consistent running from South London Harriers (SLH) and Kent AC saw them reel in Herne Hill on the Court Lane side of the park.

SLH’s Shad-Juan Bryan-Gay (5:03) just had too much in the tank to hold off the fast finishing Kent AC’s Ben Clarke (4:55) to claim second place on the line. Both teams recorded 15:02.

Petts Wood Runners claimed the first three teams in the mixed category (each side includes at least one woman), with the team of Andrew Robertson (5:33), Melody Kane (5:39) and Simon Thomas (5:31) picking up first place in 16:44, with Kane also picking up third best ladies individual performance.

Teams featuring Kev Howarth, Kev Chadwick and Natalie Falshaw; and Oliver Lister, Alice Tennant and Chris King took second and third in 17:32 and 17:42 respectively.

Kent AC secured another women’s title, but this time it was a close run thing.

Herne Hill’s Lily Newton (5:40) had initially given them an impressive lead over Kent’s Claire Oxlade (5:51). Consistent runs from Herne Hill’s Daisy Black (6:20) and Kent’s Victoria Cartwright (6:18) meant that it was a last lap showdown between the two fastest runners on the night.

Despite an impressive 5:33 from Herne Hill’s Rowen Hughes, Kent AC’s Alexa Parker stormed to 5:20 to finish in 17:31, just three seconds ahead.

Third place went to a team of Dulwich Runners featuring Helen Shannon (6:09), Rosie Murton (6:27) and (Katie Smith (6:15) in 18:53.

First place in the children’s fun run went to Leon Mazur (05:33). Salome Bouten finished as the first girl (06:09).

PICTURES: DULWICH RUNNERS